Reggae Promos Summer 2009, Vol. 2

Reggae Promos Summer 2009, vol. 2
Reviewed by Sadie O., 7/4/09
Dancehall and Reggae promos from May/June 09. First four tracks are from the new Itals release; tracks 5-10 are all the same riddim with different vocalists, all dancehall diatribes and complaints about today’s hard times. Tracks 11 to 15 are from a recent comp of various Reggae tracks. Tracks 16 and 17 are extended remakes of lovely old Bunny Wailer hits.
Minor FCC on track 5. I like 1, 11, 12, 16, 17 best.
1. 3:52 ****jaunty upbeat ska, hard times lyrics. A bit reminiscent of early Toots.
2. 4:21 ***midtempo roots skank – this is a bit reminiscent of early Gregory Isaacs.
3. 4:06 ***midtempo roots bubble with boops and chimes – pretty.
4. 3:53 ***instrumental version of track 1 – cool ska.
5. 4:31 FCC: “shitry” ** midtempo riddim with prominent keyboards, dancehall rant against Babylon shitsdem.
6. 4:27 **same rather nondescript riddim, violent times lyrics.
7. 4:27 **same riddim – man, time tough dung a Yard…
8. 4:26 **same riddim, more hard times.
9. 4:27 **same riddim, anti-crime diatribe.
10. 4:27 ***same riddim, more diatribe, but more compelling vocal style.
11. 3:39 ****sweet uptempo bubble, soulful singing – shout out to Marvin Gaye, praise of Reggae.
12. 3:31 ****somewhat downtempo roots bubble, sweet singing and dancehall response, hard times lyrics. Good vocal combination.
13. 3:36 *midtempo syncopated beat – turns totally commercial. Soulful singing, rasta message – but he can’t overcome that commercial production – pity.
14. 3:51 ***uptempo bubble, sweet singing, rasta message.
15. 3:42 **boopy downtempo skank, pretty singing.
16. 6:10 ****pretty flute intro, downtempo bubble, remix of Bunny Wailer’s big hit. Quite nice.
17. 8:18 ****chimes intro, then slow nyahbinghi with bits of harmonica, harmonies. Sweet remaking of a classic spiritual. Builds to really gorgeous sound.